Kumbhalgarh

Located 84 km north of the lake city of Udaipur, the imposing and awe-inspiring Kumbhalgarh Fort has such a commanding position that it fell only once in its entire history when the water supply was poisoned by the enemy, i.e., the Mughals under Akbar.

The most famous of the forts built by famous Rajput ruler and statesman Rana Kumbha in the fifteenth century, Kumbhalgarh Fort is one of the highlights of a trip to Kumbhalgarh. Nestled in the rugged Aravalli Hills, the Kumbhalgarh Fort along with other five hill forts of Rajasthan— Amber, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Ranthambhore and Gagaron has been recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and must be included among the top picks for any travel guide.

Within the confines of the Kumbhalgarh fort, the walls of which are impenetrable, you can find beautiful palaces including the Palace of Rana Kumbha and Badal Mahal, which translates into the 'Palace of Clouds'.

Rana Kumbha is also credited with the construction of Tower of Victory or Vijaya Stambha, built to commemorate his victory over the Sultan of Malwa.

While at Kumbhalgarh, a place rich in history, it is recommended that you must explore the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary, a premier destination for a rendezvous with the wild in Rajasthan. Spread over an area of 578 sq km, the sanctuary is home to a large number of species that include some endangered ones. Though the undisputed highlight of the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary is the wolf, leopards, hyena, sloth bear, jackal, smabhar, jungle cat, nilgai, chinkara, chaisingh (the four horned antelope) are also found.

The nearby attractions of Kumbhalgarh are Neelkanth Mahadeo Temple, Vedi Temple, Muchchal Mahavir Temple, Mammadev Temple, Parshuram Temple and Jain Temples of Ranakpur, famous for its matchless sculpture. 25 km from Kumbhalgarh, Ranakpur is one hour drive from Kumbhalgarh.

Where to stay in Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh has a wide array of accommodation options to choose from to suit all budgets. Club Mahindra, Kumbhalgarh Forest Retreat, the Wild Retreat, Kumbha Bagh, Karni Palace Hotel are some of the fine hotels where you can stay on your travel to Kumbhalgarh.

How to Reach Kumbhalgarh

Kumbhalgarh can be easily managed as a day-trip from Udaipur. The nearest airport to Kumbhalgarh is the Maharana Pratap Airport or Dabok Airport of Udaipur. Visitors can fly to the Maharana Pratap Airport from Delhi. The Phalna junction railway station is nearest railhead to Kumbhalgarh. The railhead is connected by major places and cities of India.